Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Bitch Media, I just love saying their name, is getting ready to offer fellowships for writers. Catch? You have to have three writing samples of the topic of your choosing out of the four options provided:

Reproductive rights & justice

Pop-culture criticism

Technology

Global feminism

The top one being the closest to my heart as a mother of almost half a dozen children. Thought you all would like to ride along this journey with me as I attempt to be published for some actual mula , and not just for free. Feel free to leave your opinions, especially if you notice any typos. I have until all Hallow's Eve to get this done. So, send me all the light, love and luck you can!

Something I have wondered for as long as I've been old enough to know what all of the birds and bees subject was all about was, why on earth does a woman need her husbands signature in order to be able to have her tubes tied? For any and all women in the United States of America who are single, once they reach a certain age, plus the particular doctor's criteria, is able to have their tubes tied, clipped and burnt without anyone's permission other than her own. Yet, when it comes to a woman who has said those two all important words, 'I Do', they have to have a permission slip signed by the man they have promised to honor and obey.

Now, correct me if I'm wrong, cause I am not one of those people who suspect that they are right at all times, but, does a man whether married or not need to have permission to have a vasectomy? If that is indeed the case, which I'm about 99.9% sure that I am, why is it not the same for the woman? Why do women have to constantly jump through different hoops in all things in life, especially when it comes to their own body? This is a complete and utter injustice no matter what way you look at it or debate about it. For there to be any equality or justice in this area it should either go both ways or be a demolished practice altogether; either both need the others' permission or neither.

Don't get me wrong, this is most definitely a subject that should be decided among the couple regardless of which party would like to have him/herself fixed. It should not be a law where the woman has to 'ask daddy', and have it in writing, whether or not he will allow her to have such a procedure done to her body. It is the equivalent of saying that once married the wife's body is now the property of the husband's, but his still belongs to him to do with as he pleases. In a world where it is now accepted for the husband to be a stay-at-home dad, it should not be right for that working mom, especially one who may be struggling as it is, to have this decision as anything but strictly her own.